Visitor s register for graves



Feb. 16, 1937. DUCHAN VISITORS REGISTER FOR GRAVES Filed April 24, 1935 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to registering devices designed more particularly for use in connection with graves.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable stand which can be placed on, or close to, the grave and is provided with suitable means on which visitors may enter a record of the times when the grave has been visited.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand of this type or character in which the recording means is in the form of a card-retaining holder which is enclosed against the weather and is arranged so that the visitors may conveniently register their names on the cards.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present registering device will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views; Fig. 1 is a perspective of a stand provided with a holder and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the holder; showing the cover swung back into its open position wherein the cards are exposed so that a visitor may write his name thereon. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the card retaining holder and the supporting or mounting bracket therefor;

The invention is embodied in a stand which is adapted to be placed on or adjacent to a grave and comprises a cast metal A-shaped frame 5. The latter as shown in Fig. 1 has the lower ends of its two legs pointed, as at 6, so they may be forced into the ground, and embodies a crossbar 1 which extends across and is formed integrally with the legs. The legs of the frame are preferably angular or L-shaped in cross-section and embody inturned front flanges as shown in Fig. 3. A bracket-forming plate 8 is secured by screws 9 to the back of the front flanges of the legs of the A-frame and is provided with a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending lugs II] for rigidly supporting a record holder. In addition to the A-shaped frame 5 the stand comprises a rear leg I I. The latter has its lower end pointed, as at I2, so that it may be driven into the ground, andv It in the back of the plate 8. The leg I I is removably secured in the socket I4 so the stand may be conveniently stored and transported in knocked-down form and assembled at the grave. The holder is adapted to retain a series of cards I5 which are preferably lined to indicate spaces for the names of the visitors and the date of each 5 visit, and comprises a back-plate I 6. Said holder is secured by screws I! to the forwardly extending lugs It on the plate 8, and is provided with a back-turned flange I8 around its sides and ends. The back-plate I6 is inclined forwardly and down- 10 wardly so that it will conveniently support the cards I5 at the proper angle for writing on the cards. Flange-strips I9 are secured to the front of the back-plate I6 to retain the cards I5 so they can be slipped in place laterally and removed 15 therefrom after they have been filled. For the purpose of protecting the cards I5 against the elements, there is provided a cover which comprises a front wall 20 and a backwardly extending right-angled flange 2|. The front wall 20- extends over and covers the front of the cards I5 and the plate I6, and the flange 2I extends over and prevents entry of rain or snow to the record cards from the rear, the edge of the flange 2| being extended backwardly or rearwardly of the 2' flange I8 on the plate I6 for this purpose. The cover is pivotally mounted by screws 22 on the sides of the flange I8 on the plate I6. These screws 22 are positioned or located adjacent to the upper end of the'holder so that the cover can be swung upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide convenient access to the record cards I 5 when an entry is to be made thereon or it becomes necessary to replace the cards. The frontface of the cover may be used as a marker for the grave. 35 The A-frame 5 is provided with hooks 24 to hold a wreath or floral piece on the stand, these hooks being'placed so that a wreath will surround the forwardly and downwardly projecting card holder.

The invention exemplifies a grave register which is adapted to preserve the cards or other records of visits; which is provided with a cardretaining holder which is positioned so that entries may be conveniently made on the record cards; which may be used to support a floral piece as well as the card-retaining holder; and which is adapted to be transported or stored in knocked-down form.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I 5 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a register comprising a stand adapted to be placed on or near a grave and including an upstanding frame, a holder positioned adjacent to the upper portion of the frame and consisting of a forwardly facing, card supporting back wall and a cover for the back wall having a rearwardly extending marginal flange surrounding and projecting rearwardly of the back wall and pivotally connected to the latter so that the cover may be swung away from the back wall to expose and provide access to the cards, and a bracket mounted on the upper portion of the frame of the stand and connected to the back wall of the holder in such manner that when the frame of the stand is in its normal position the holder is supported at a slight incline with respect to the vertical and as a result the cards upon exposure may be readily written on and the cover when in its closed position will shed Water and protect the back wall and cards against the elements.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a register comprising a portable stand adapted to be placed on or near a grave and including an upstanding frame, a holder located at the upper portion of the frame and comprising a rectangular forwardly facing card supporting back wall with a rearwardly extending marginal flange and a rectangular cover for the back wall having a rearwardly extending marginal flange surrounding the flange of the back wall and having the upper portions of the side parts thereof pivotally connected to the upper portions of the side parts of the back wall flange so that the cover may be swung upwardly away from the back wall to expose or provide access to the cards and a bracket fixedly secured to the upper portion of the frame of the stand and having a forwardly extending lug so connected to the back wall of the holder that when the frame of the stand is in its normal position the iholder is supported at a slight incline with respect to the vertical and as a result the cards upon exposure may be readily written on and the cover when in its closed position will shed water and protect the back wall and cards against the elements.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a register comprising a tripod type stand adapted to be placed on or near a grave and including an inclined A-shaped frame, a holder located at the upper portion of the frame and comprising a rectangular forwardly facing card supporting back wall with a rearwardly extending marginal flange and a rectangular cover for the back wall having a rearwardly extending marginal flange surrounding the flange of the back wall and having the upper portions of the side parts thereof pivotally connected to the upper portions of the side parts of the back wall flange so that the cover may be swung upwardly away from the back wall to expose or provide access to the cards, and a bracket extending between and connected to the upper portions of the legs of the frame and having a forwardly extending lug so connected to the back wall of the holder that when the frame of the stand is in its normal position the holder is supported at a slight incline with respect to the vertical and as a result the cards upon exposure may be readily written on and the cover when in its closed position will shed water and protect the back wall and cards against the elements.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a register comprising a tripod type stand adapted to be placed on or near a grave and including an upwardly inclined A-shaped frame with means at the upper end thereof for supporting a wreath, a bracket extending between and connected to the upper portions of the legs of the A-frame of the stand, and a card holder connected to the front of the bracket in such manner that when a wreath is supported on said means it is centrally positioned with respect to and extends through the wreath.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a register comprising a tripod type stand adapted to be placed on or near a grave and consisting of an upwardly inclined A-shaped front frame and an upwardly inclined back leg, a forwardly facing card holder located at the upper portion of the frame of the stand, and a bracket extending between and connected to the upper portions of the legs of said frame and having attaching means at the back thereof for the upper end of the back leg and attaching or supporting means at its front for the card holder.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a register comprising a tripod type frame adapted to be placed on or near a grave and including an upwardly inclined'A-shaped frame with means at the upper portion for supporting a wreath, and also including an upwardly inclined back leg, a bracket extending between and connected to the upper portions of the legs of the A-frame of the stand and having means at the back thereof forming a socket for the upper end of the back leg, and a cover equipped card holder connected to the front of the bracket so that it is angularly positioned with respect to the A-frame and when a wreath is supported by said means it is centrally positioned with respect to, and extends through, said wreath.

BOHUlVDIL DUCHAN. 

